Small Parties Gain Power in Australia's Senate

Incoming Liberal Nationals May Have to Bargain for Upper House Success

Enda Curran

SYDNEY — Australia's incoming prime minister, Tony Abbott, faces an unexpected new wrinkle to pushing through his policies — a smattering of obscure political parties that are likely to become influential in the nation's senate.

Senate vote-counting was continuing after Saturday's national elections. However, a hodgepodge of smaller and fringe parties advocating everything from souped-up cars to looser gun laws appear on course to win a number of crucial seats in the so-called upper house, where laws go for final approval.